RECENTLY released data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) demonstrates that crime rates in NSW have generally been stable or have declined over the past two years.
The statistics also show that those living in regional NSW, and in postcode 2422 in particular, are generally much less impacted by crime than those living in Greater Sydney.
“In the two years to December 2025, recorded crime in Regional NSW showed more favourable trends than Greater Sydney,” explains a BOCSAR media release.
“No major offence categories increased, and four declined, including robbery (down 12.9 percent), break and enter dwelling (down 10.9 percent), break and enter non dwelling (down 14.1 percent), and steal from motor vehicle (down 7.4 percent).
“In contrast, crime in Greater Sydney was largely stable, with a significant increase in retail theft (up 14 percent).”
Although retail theft, generally known as shoplifting, increased in Sydney, as did sexual assault, they were both stable in regional NSW.
Over the last two years in the Mid North Coast there was no increase in any crime rate, and break and enter from dwelling offences decreased by 22 percent.
While crime rates in regional areas are generally lower than in Sydney, the BOCSAR report shows that crime rates for postcode 2422 over the past two years are generally also well below the rest of NSW.
Some examples are:
– The homicide rate for NSW was 1.3 per 100,000, but zero for postcode 2422.
– The NSW rate for drug offences was 471.1 per 100,000 for all of NSW, but 52.9 for postcode 2422.
– The rate of theft offences was 2135.9 for all of NSW but 952.7 for postcode 2422.
– The rates of both sexual offences and assault for postcode 2422 were closer to the rest of the state but still lower.
Despite some reports to the contrary, in the last two years there has been no increase in youth crime, and in regional NSW youth crime rates have fallen, according to the BOCSAR statistics.
“The flat rate of legal actions suggests that youth crime has remained stable across NSW,” said Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director of BOSCAR.
“In Regional NSW, however, youth offending is falling.
“Youth court actions fell by 13.7 percent in regional areas over the past two years.”
By John WATTS
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